Sediment Transport by Water

Theory
Processes
Rainsplash
overland flow transport
Rilling and gullying
Mass movements
Weathering limited versus supply limited
The extreme event
Theory
Mechanics of flow
Stream energy
Entrainment
Mechanics of flow
Water is subject to two forces:
gravity (W
a
= g sin |)
friction
Defines ability of water to erode and
transport sediment
Types of flow in open
channels
Type of flow Criterion
Uniform/non-uniform Velocity is constant/variable
with position
Steady/unsteady Velocity is constant/variable
with time
Laminar/turbulent Reynolds number is < 500/
>2500
Tranquil/rapid Froude number is <1/>1
Laminar Flow
Each fluid element moves along a specific
path with no significant mixing between
layers
Boundary layer in contact with the bed
has no forward velocity
Each layer can slip past each other
Turbulent flow
At a critical velocity or depth laminar flow
becomes unstable and the parallel
streamlines are destroyed
Adjacent layers mix, transferring
momentum by large scale eddies
Velocity more evenly distributed with
depth
Steeper near bed velocity gradient
Reynolds Number (Re)
Re = h u/q
where = fluid density
h = flow depth
u = fluid viscosity
q = viscosity
larger values, larger turbulence
Entrainment
Movement of material depends on its
physical properties;
grain size shape
density structual arrangement
Basic distinction;
cohesive (silt-clay size)
non-cohesive
Shear stress
Causes initial movement
Shear stress = estimate of force exerted
on the bed by the fluid

slope s
radius hydraulic R
water of weight specific
stress shear boundary mean where
Rs
=
=
=
=
=

t
t
0
0
t
cr
o D
but doesnt include lift forces
Lift due to:
eddies
difference in velocity at top and bottom of
grain
Critical shear stress
( )
repose of angle
density ent se
density fluid
packing of ree
diameter grain D where
D g
s
s cr
=
=
=
=
=
=
|

q
| q t
t
dim
deg
tan
6
Shields (1936)
Dimensionless critical shear stress
Plot against particle Reynolds no. (ratio of
grain size to thickness of laminar sublayer)

( )D g
s
cr

t
u

=
Factors producing scatter
use of average t or u
spatial variability over
bed
channel size
irregularity of eddies

degree of exposure
pivot angles
imbrication degree of
packing
grain shape
microtopography

Erosion
Entrainment/detatchment
Transport
Detatchment vs Transport
Rainsplash
Weathering
Tillage
Trampling
Runoff
Rainsplash
Overland flow
Rill flow
Gully flow
Rainsplash
varies with rainfall intensity
varies with land cover
varies with slope
varies with % of area which is rilled
varies with lithology
crusting?
Surface Wash
particles detatched and transported by
surface flowing water
force = velocity x mass (i.e. Q)
controls relate to character of materials,
especially ability to produce rainfall excess
Resistance to detatchment
non-uniform
varies with particle size
cyclic variation with season
sand/silt clay ratio
stoniness
Rills
Impermanent channels
vary in lateral position year to year
develop once threshold exceeded in a
single event

Gullies
permanent incised X-sectional form
develop once threshold exceeded over
longer term average conditions
may be discontinuous
gully / arroyo / donga
Mass Movement
possibly only important in extreme events
directly contribute to load or rills/gullies
4 main types
shallow slides
slab failure
rockfalls
deep seated slides
Soil Erosion
Soil loss = R K L S P C
R = rainfall erosivity
K = erodibility of soil
L = slope length
s = slope angle
P = coefficient of cultivation methods
C = crop management factor
Weathering Limited

When unlimited capacity for
transport occurs, removal of material is
limited by the rate at which material is
detatched.
Transport Limited
When there is an abundant
supply of material and erosion
depends on the efficiency of
forces transporting the
material away.
Equilibrium condition
Removal of material = supply of material

Contionuous range between extremes
Occurs over different timescales:
Cyclic
Graded
Steady-state


Transport vs Weathering
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Rate of Production
R
a
t
e

o
f

R
e
m
o
v
a
l
Accumulation
Erosion
Limit set by availabilty of material
Limit set by rate of removal
X Z
Y
Timescales
Cyclic
period over which an effective change in basin
elevation can be measured
Graded (equilibrium)
a change in any factor will cause a displacement of
the equilibrium in a direction which will absorb the
effect of change
Steady state
a measurement can be taken and the system
assumed to be in a constant condition
Timescales
0
120
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
Time (years)
E
l
e
v
a
t
i
o
n

(
m
)
Steady State
Graded
Cyclic
Magnitude-Frequency concept
Wolman and Miller, 1960
majority of work carried out by events
which occur on average 1 or 2 times per
year
basin characteristics adjusted to these
events

Different in semi-arid channels:
stress-strain rel
n
more complicated
large spatial variation
morphology adjusted to extreme events
Extreme events
Do majority of work because:
larger particle size
transmission losses
poor sorting
vegetation
Themes of dryland floods
Get scour and fill in times of extreme
floods but channels restore themselves
afterwards
Average sediment yields before a flood
are exceeded for sometime afterwards
Work done during a flood is poorly related
to flow volume or total ppt